A prominent feature of his apartment is a Macintosh computer with a huge monitor. Two magazines with late Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs on the covers sit in a virtual place of honor on his coffee table. He pulls out his iPhone to make a new music selection on his stereo as he chats with a guest.

But as much as Dillon likes digital, he loves vinyl records.

Larger and more prominently displayed than his Mac is his record collection, from vintage vinyl and garage-sale finds to special vinyl editions of albums by bands like My Morning Jacket, Wilco and White Stripes.

"There's just something about hearing the pop and the crack and the warmth off the record — hearing the grooves of the record instead of the zeroes and the ones of a digital track," Dillon said, lowering the needle on his turntable onto one of his prized records, the vinyl release of Fleet Foxes' Helplessness Blues.

Jack White is set to launch his live solo career next month, performing on Saturday Night Live on March 3. The programme will be hosted by actress and tabloid fodder Lindsay Lohan.

White's debut solo album 'Blunderbuss,' self-produced and recorded at his Third Man Studio in Nashville, will be released on April 23. Of the album, he said it was a record he "couldn't have released until now".

He said: "I've put off making records under my own name for a long time but these songs feel like they could only be presented under my name. These songs were written from scratch, had nothing to do with anyone or anything else but my own expression, my own colours on my own canvas."

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album cover art for the day:

SONATA ARCTICA: New Album Details Revealed

Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA will release their new album, "Stones Grow Her Name", on May 18 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded in several studios all over Finland, mixed at Sonic Pump Studios by Mikko Karmila and mastered at Chartmakers by Svante Forsbäck. The effort will be released as a limited-edition digipak, standard jewel case, vinyl and download.

GoogleNewsSubmit, once the United States Fastest growing Online Distribution Services, is excited to announce to the world a Press Release Service designed for musicians. Musicians around the world are always looking for new avenues to get their music heard. Immediately available, musicians are able to submit a press release as well as attach a music video and/or music to their press release. As with all other press releases, each release is guaranteed to make Google News, and will make Bing News, Ask News and thousands of other online media outlets. The music press release distribution service will start as low as $19 for each submission.

Rebekah Hudson, Owner of GoogleNewsSubmit states, "We're excited to offer the cutting edge service to the thousands of musicians around the globe that are eager to let the world hear their music." Once they purchase a press release package, musicians can simply attach the mp3 or music file to be featured on the release.

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and in music history for february 20th:

In 1958, Bill Haley and his Comets, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly & The Crickets, Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmie Rodgers all appeared on the first date of a six-day tour of Florida.

In 1960, guitarist Jimi Hendrix made his stage debut in the basement of Seattle's Temple De Hirsch synagogue. It was not a lengthy engagement however. He was fired between sets for "showing off."

In 1964, the Bachelors were at #1 on the UK singles chart with “Diane.” This was the Irish trio’s only UK #1 from 16 other Top 40 hits.

In 1964, the Beach Boys began recording "Don't Worry Baby." Brian Wilson said the song was his attempt to capture the essence of his all-time favorite record, "Be My Baby" by the Ronettes. It was released on a single three months later as the B-side of "I Get Around."

In 1965, Gary Lewis And The Playboys lead the Billboard Hot 100 with their first hit, "This Diamond Ring." Session musicians were used on the track instead of the band and Gary's voice was heavily over dubbed with other singers. When it came time to perform the song 'live' on The Ed Sullivan Show, Gary sang along with pre-recorded tracks as the Playboys pretended to play their instruments.

In 1967, Pink Floyd appeared at the Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, England.

Kurt Cobain, the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana was born in 1967 (died April 5, 1994)

In 1969, "Goodbye Cream," the documentary film of Cream's 1968 farewell concert at London's Royal Albert Hall, opened in Baltimore.

In 1970, John Lennon released the single "Instant Karma!" in North America. Produced by Phil Spector, the track included contributions from George Harrison (lead guitar, piano, backing vocals), Billy Preston, Klaus Voorman, Alan White, and Yoko Ono (backing vocals). Business manager Allen Klein and several dozen revelers from London's Hatchett Club also overdubbed backing vocals. John Lennon had written, recorded and mixed the track all in one day on January 22, 1970.

In 1971, Yes appeared at Kingston Poly, London, England. Support act was Queen.

In 1971, Judy Collins enjoys her biggest chart success as her rendition of "Amazing Grace" reaches #15 in the US and #5 in the UK. The record enjoyed one of the longest UK chart runs ever, with an initial stay of 32 weeks, and coupled with many re-entries, totaled 67.

In 1972, in San Diego, Alice Cooper and Badfinger performed at the Convention Hall.

In 1972, Elvis Presley released the album 'Elvis Now.'

In 1974, Cher filed for separation from Sonny Bono after they had been together for 10 years and legally married since 1969. The final divorce decree was issued in June 1975.

In 1977, at the 19th annual Grammy Awards, statues were presented to Stevie Wonder for Album Of The Year for "Songs In The Key Of Life", and Best Pop Vocal Performance - Male for "I Wish". Best New Artist went to The Starland Vocal Band. Chicago was cited for Best Pop Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group for "If You Leave Me Now" and Linda Ronstadt won Best Pop Vocal Performance - Female for "Hasten Down The Wind".

In 1991, Quincy Jones is awarded six statues at the 33rd annual Grammy Awards in New York City. Bette Midler's version of "From A Distance" is named Song Of The Year, Mariah Carey wins for Best New Artist and Bob Dylan is honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Other winners include Roy Orbison, Aaron Neville, Eric Clapton and Linda Ronstadt.

In 1993, more than 34 years after his death, Buddy Holly had the #1 album on the UK chart with the "Words of Love" compilation album. Holly reached the Top 10 of the UK album chart for five straight decades.

In 1997, Ben and Jerry's introduced a their ice cream Phish Food. It was named after the rock group Phish

In 1998, Bob McBride, the lead singer of the Canadian group Lighthouse, died of complications from his long battle with substance abuse. He was 51. The band cracked the Hot 100 with "One Fine Morning" (#24), on which he sang lead and "Sunny Days" (#34), which came after McBride left the band.

In 2003, the fourth-deadliest fire in U.S. history killed 100 people and injured 230 at The Station, a rock 'n' roll nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Ty Longley, guitarist for headliners Great White, was one of the victims. The fire started with sparks from a pyrotechnic display which ignited flammable sound insulation foam in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. The display was a gimmick used by Great White and in this case was set off by their road manager, Daniel Biechele. He and the two owners of the nightclub were charged with 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter, two per death. The owners, Jeffrey A. and Michael A. Derderian, were also fined $1.07 million for failing to carry workers' compensation insurance for their employees. In May 2006 after pleading guilty, Biechele was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with four to serve and 11 years suspended, plus three years probation. Biechele was released from prison on March 19, 2008. After changing their pleas from "not guilty" to "no contest," thereby avoiding a trial, Michael Derderian received 15 years in prison, with four to serve and 11 years suspended, plus three years probation, and Jeffrey Derderian received a 10-year suspended sentence, three years probation, and 500 hours of community service. Michael Derderian was released from prison in June 2009, receiving time off for good behavior.

In 2005, singer/actor John Raitt, father of singer Bonnie Raitt, died of pneumonia at 88.

In 2007, at the Toyota Center in Houston, Christina Aguilera began a 42-date tour, with the Black Eyed Peas and the Pussycat Dolls as her opening acts.

In 2008, a 1976 Rolling Stones album, bought at a sale for a little more than $3, sold at auction for $6,300. The "Black and Blue" album had been signed by John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Paul and Linda McCartney, George Harrison, and members of the Rolling Stones.

In 2011, guitarist Terry Clements, who backed Gordon Lightfoot for nearly 40 years, died after a stroke at the age of 63.